That obstinacy of hers was getting
the better of her. Why should she have gone? Even Lord Fawn had expressed
his desire that she should remain. And then, in the breasts of the wise
ones, all faith in the Greystock engagement had nearly vanished. Another
letter had come from Mrs. Hittaway, who now declared that it was already
understood about Portray that Lady Eustace intended to marry her cousin.
This was described as a terrible crime on the part of Lizzie, though the
antagonistic crime of a remaining desire to marry Lord Fawn was still
imputed to her. And, of course, the one crime heightened the other. So
that words from the eloquent pen of Mrs. Hittaway failed to make dark
enough the blackness of poor Lizzie's character. As for Mr. Greystock, he
was simply a heartless man of the world, wishing to feather his nest. Mrs.
Hittaway did not for a moment believe that he had ever dreamed of marrying
Lucy Morris. Men always have three or four little excitements of that kind
going on for the amusement of their leisure hours; so, at least, said Mrs.
Hittaway. "The girl had better be told at once." Such was her decision
about poor Lucy.
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